by Frank
Mihalic
There is a time and a place for everything, right? Last fall was
challenging for us to find schools of feeding Striped Bass during the late
fall migration. We found pockets of fish one morning, and I called my dock
mate in on the action. My fishing partner Mike was using a classic yellow
over white bucktail with a white curly tail grub and managed ONE bass from
this melee. My friends in the other boat had similar results. Myself,
being the only fly angler, “got lucky” and had seven fish before I had
to head for the barn and I left the fish biting. I had a bent rod with a
screaming drag almost the entire time my fly was in the water. These fish
were on sand eels, and it seemed that they found a “Mean Green Deceiver”
was very much to their liking. My frustrated friends who witnessed this
casually asked: “ Where can I learn how to fly fish?” I helped them
out a bit when we started the South Jersey Coastal Fly Anglers.
Southern New
Jersey boasts about some phenomenal opportunities for the fly fisherman,
especially if one knows where to look, and how to fish these spots.
Seasonality will move different species into different waters making them
easy pickins for the fly fishermen.
Back Bay
Fishing Opportunities: There are so many points and cuts, channel edges
and flats within ones field of vision that are often overlooked. Be sure
to explore new areas in the light of day, preferably at low tide. This way
you can see the deep pockets that will be holding fish more easily, as
well as the shallow water you will not waste much time on. You may find it
helpful to draw a small map if the walk in is a long one. Catch an evening
high tide and spend some time fishing in safety your new area. Striped
Bass and Weak fish move into the shallows at night to feed, sometimes with
reckless abandon! Sod banks have deep water up to their edge and will
provide an excellent base for the fly fisherman provided they do not have
tall brush to limit your back cast. Many spots are available to the
land based fly fisherman with deep water right at his rod tip. Wading a
shallow flat is also an excellent way to reach fish holding water, but be
sure to know the bottom contour where you are wading; being aware of an
incoming tide and the direction you must walk back.
Back bay
waters can be effectively fished with seven thru nine-weight outfits. Nine
and ten foot long rods are popular here, with the longer rod more
effective at keeping the back cast above the marsh grass or steep bank
which may be behind you. Floating lines are useful when working top water
flys around dawn and dusk. Intermediate lines cast and fish well in this
shallower water. Sink tip lines and full sinking lines in the 250 grain
range are useful here as they cast easily and will get your fly deep into
a strong current and are a favorite when fishing deep cut banks. Waders
and a stripping basket are must have items, as is a fly wallet. For
nighttime excursions, add a light that can be worn around your neck or
head.
Fishing the
Big Water with fly tackle: Fishing the fall blitzes has kept me up many a
night in anticipation of the schools of fish under the wheeling birds we
hoped to spy as we cleared the inlet in the pre dawn darkness.
Starting in late August, start searching for False Albacore around the
near shore lumps and ridges. These speedy schools of fish are flying by at
a good clip, and casting most lures to them is an exercise in futility, so
this is truly a game where the fly fisherman has a tremendous advantage!
Bluefish are always fun to catch on the long rod. A school can pop up at
any time, or they can easily chummed to the boat for more consistent
action. Weak fish will enter our waters starting in late May and will be
available until they exit our inlets in the fall and often set up a school
of feeding fish that extends from the surf line out to about thirty feet
of depth. As the sun gets high in the sky, this action may slow, but
will surely pick up again as the suns rays become weaker in the late
afternoon.
The Striped
Bass: Striped Bass arrive around mid April and will be available all
summer long if one trades sleep for fish. In the fall, schools of hungry
Bass will test your angling skill as they will range in size from
schoolies up to thirty + pounds which are easily available to the fly
angler who fishes from a boat, but are also along the beach front and
jettys as well. Saltwater fly tackle in the nine and ten wt range
will easily handle larger flys and provide the lifting power needed to
quickly subdue a Striped Bass from the oceans depths. A light rod and a
prolonged battle will put undo stress the fish causing more released fish
to die than need be. A nine-weight rod is perfect from the beach, but the
“big gun” ten weight plus will get the nod when fishing from the boat.
This heavy fly rod is very capable of throwing a sinking line that will
get you down FAST! And keep you fly in front of the noses of the big boys.
Blue Water
Opportunities as well: False Albacore and Bonito are common in our
offshore waters during the summer season, and are a real whoot on the fly
rod! Dolphin are an easy target as we pass floating debris, lobsterpot
markers and Hi Fliers offshore. Some captains specialize in catching
blue fin and yellow fin tuna on the fly. This sport should be referred to
as “full contact extreme fly fishing”!
Fly
Selection: If there is bait that swims, there is surely a fly to imitate
its look and action, but some are better than others. Durability is a
major issue, as is their ease of tying, and their realism. The most
important factor in selecting a fly is where would you like this fly to
swim? On the surface? Just below the surface? Darting below the surface?
The next consideration is what bait is in the water and what size it
is. You will hear talk when the peanut bunker have arrived, and when
the mullet run has begun. Other common bait includes Spearing or Bay
Anchovies. Shrimp. Crabs and worms are around from time to time, and it’s
a good idea to have one of these patterns in your fly wallet. This anglers
opinion of color, I would suggest that you fish dark colors in low light
conditions and in dirty water. If the sun is up and the water clear,
natural hues will perform very well.
Fly Fishing
means being a more observant angler. Not just observant of fish, but also
of your surroundings. Learning to fish with a fly rod is the pinnacle of a
saltwater anglers skill. The fish WILL strike your fly, and when it does,
you will remember that thrill forever!
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